Treatment Options For People With Lung Cancer

Treatment Options For People With Lung Cancer

Article by Gray Rollins







Several lung cancer treatments are currently available and the determination as to which one is prescribed depends on the lung cancer stage that has been diagnosed, the location of the cancer, and the patient’s health. The most common treatments for lung cancer include Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, and Targeted Therapy.

Surgery

Surgery involves cutting away a cancerous tumor and a portion of the tissue that has surrounded the tumor. Sometimes the surgical treatment involves removal of the entire affected lung. Surgery is often effective, but recovery time can be long. Because the surgeon will have to cut through the rib cage to get to the lungs, there will be pain and bed rest for one to two months after the procedure.

In addition to traditional surgical methods, other types of surgical procedures can be used depending on the location of the tumor and also the patient’s physical condition. A craniotomy, which is basically surgery performed through a hole made to the skull can be prescribed to tumors located in the brain. For small tumors, a procedure whereby a video camera is inserted into a tiny incision helps the surgeon zero in on a tumor. Because the incision is small, pain is generally reduced.

Radiation

Radiation can either be used by itself or in conjunction with a surgical procedure. Radiation can be beamed directly at the cancerous tumor from the outside of the body using a laser, or radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor via a small pellet. When a patient’s overall state of health is poor, radiation is a better alternative than undergoing a surgical procedure. In cases where surgery has been performed, radiation might also be prescribed as a way to remove the cancerous cells that for whatever reason could not be surgically removed. Radiation to remove brain tumors can result in changing the brain’s functionality later on, but may be the only option.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is actually a drug that works to remove cancer by way of the bloodstream. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken either orally or administered via an injection into a vein. Because the bloodstream can carry the drug throughout the body, Chemotherapy is often the preferred treatment when lung cancer has spread well beyond the lungs. One problem associated with chemotherapy is that it can also cause damage to healthy cells and the cells that produce blood that reside within the bone marrow. Low blood counts can lead to a number of different problems so Chemotherapy treatment must be closely monitored.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted Therapy is a relatively new treatment option that does show promise. Instead of focusing on destroying damaged cells (which can also damage healthy cells), these drugs instead are designed to interfere with a cancerous cell’s ability to grow. Right now, Targeted Therapy drugs are given to patients only after other treatment options have been attempted. And unfortunately, Targeted Therapy has not been effective for all patients.

Each lung cancer treatment option has benefits, risks and frequently, side effects. Deciding which option is best is something that only a doctor and patient can determine.



About the Author

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for LifeLungCancer.com. To learn more about lung cancer treatments and lung cancer prevention, visit our site.

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How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Article by Shane Lima







Mesothelioma cancer affects the lining of internal organs and body cavities – most often the lining around the lungs and heart and the abdominal cavity. To understand how mesothelioma is diagnosed, it’s important to recognize how it forms and what effects it has on the body.

How Mesothelioma DevelopsThe medical community believes that exposure to asbestos is the only way patients get mesothelioma cancer. When people breathe in or swallow asbestos dust and fibers, the material attaches to the mesothelium, a thin tissue that coats the inside of our organs. Over time, the asbestos changes the cells, and those abnormalities lead to cancer. Asbestos was a popular insulating material for most of the last century because it was cheap and effective. People in industries like construction, ship and aircraft building, automotive, railroad and other fields were exposed to asbestos every day – unaware of the damage it could do.

Receiving a DiagnosisUnlike cancers of the breast or colon, there are no quick and easy tests for mesothelioma. That’s unfortunate since it’s much less deadly when diagnosed early. Symptoms differ by type of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs and is the most common form of the disease, results in chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath, lower back pain and problems swallowing. Most of these symptoms are caused by pleural effusion, in which fluid accumulates in and around the lungs. Other types of mesothelioma cause symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and weight loss.

Since mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer – and the time between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma can span decades – many doctors mistake symptoms of the disease for more common ailments. But when mesothelioma is suspected, the first step is typically a CT scan or MRI. If questionable results are found, a biopsy is performed. A needle biopsy collects a small amount of tissue and is less invasive; an open biopsy collects a larger tissue sample and may deliver a more accurate diagnosis. If mesothelioma is confirmed, the patient usually undergoes additional scans to determine if and where the disease may have spread.

After DiagnosisA mesothelioma diagnosis is particularly devastating because, though there are treatments that prolong life, the disease is generally considered incurable. Your doctor will formulate a treatment plan that may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or a combination of these treatments. Your prognosis and the treatment regimen are based on factors like your age, overall health and the kind of mesothelioma you have. It’s during this period that some patients contact an attorney to help them pursue a monetary settlement from the people and/or company responsible for their asbestos exposure. This settlement can go a long way toward paying hospital bills, compensating for lost income and ensuring the financial stability of the family left behind.



About the Author

If you would like to learn more about your mesothelioma diagnosis – or if you suspect that you may have undiagnosed mesothelioma – talk to a qualified oncologist.

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Lung Cancer Survival Stories

Lung Cancer Survival Stories

In practice, it is usual for all three treatments to be combined but how effective each treatment and the order or combination in which it is applied will depend on the stage of the cancer.

Lung Cancer Survival Stories

Where surgery is indicated, a patient will be either operated on using minimally invasive surgery, traditional open surgery or palliative surgery.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is indicated when the tumor is relatively small, located in an accessible portion of the lung and is primary in nature. Primary cancer is a tumor which originates from the location it is found in as opposed to having spread there from another part of the lung or body.

In minimally invasive surgery, two small incisions (between 2 to 4 cms) are made; in the upper incision a camera is inserted which is connected to a high definition television screen and which the surgeon looks at to guide the insertion of surgical instruments using the lower incision. For this reason, minimally invasive surgery is referred to as Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery or VATS.

Minimally invasive surgery provides far less possibility of complications compared to full, open surgery. Pain is substantially reduced because the ribs do not need to be spread and this also aids recovery; most patients are up and about after a couple of hours and released home from hospital after a day or two. The procedure offers a comparatively high success rate.

Traditional Open Surgery

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Traditional open surgery involves the opening of the chest cavity to provide access to the tumor and lungs. An incision is made in the flank (side of the chest) through which the surgeon will use specialized instruments to spread the ribs and expose the lung, providing access to the affected area. This form of surgery carries with it a higher risk of complications for the patient, and because of the rib spreading, the patient will experience some pain and an extended recovery period necessitating additional time in hospital.

Traditional open surgery may be needed because the lung cancer is located in an inaccessible part of the lung or the patient’s own anatomy militates against using minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Palliative Surgery

Where lung cancer has reached the stage of being incurable, surgery may nevertheless be conducted to improve the quality of life and comfort of the patient. For instance, if the tumor impedes airways, surgery to remove the cancer will relieve the obstruction though it will not cure the patient. Palliative surgery may be minimally invasive or traditional open surgery and will depend on the circumstances and strength of the patient to undergo the operation concerned.

Pre- and Post-Operative Treatment

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment may be used both before and after surgery. Pre-operative use of non-surgical treatment may be indicated where the cancer has reached a late stage but by reducing a tumor in size or the incidence of tumors, an early stage may be reached which renders surgery a viable option. Post-operative chemotherapy and radiation treatment are also frequently applied in order to ensure any cancer cells are killed off in the event the surgery did not remove them completely.

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How long do you have to be around smoke to get lung cancer?

Question by Pureinfamy: How long do you have to be around smoke to get lung cancer?
Yeah….how long do you have to “second hand” smoke before you develop lung cancer? I heard it can happen if you’re around a smoker at least one time. And what if you’re also twenty years old? When will the lung cancer be developed then? Is there still a chance of getting lung cancer if you’re riding in the car with all the windows open? Or if you’re in an open space?

Best answer:

Answer by TIMOTHY
If you actually smoke it could take 30 to 40 years to develop lung cancer second hand smoke 40 to 80 years if ever. As Yoda would say be afraid not.

What do you think? Answer below!

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Mesothelioma Exposure

Mesothelioma Exposure

Article by Andre Lee







Mesothelioma cancer is often found among individuals who have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fiber found in the altered industries. This material is useful in certain respects but are extremely harmful to the health of individuals to a great extent. During the mining and manufacturing of the fibers they may become dislodged from the mineral which often gets attached to the clothing or hair of anyone in the surrounding. Over time, the workers inhale the asbestos and this may lead to the development of cancer in such individual.

The magnitude of asbestos inhalation plays a big aspect in the spread of the cancer. This disease is also referred to as asbestos lung cancer. At times, an exposure to asbestos for only one or two months can result in Mesothelioma. The may fibers may have reached the lungs and quickly begin to develop in mesotheilum. They eventually move to the lower portion of the lungs and infect the lining. However, the cancer does not usually occur until 30-40 years after the exposure to asbestos as it is during this time that the asbestos spreads and reacts in the body. In some cases, the malignant cancer may not occur until after 70 years after being exposed to Asbestos.

The disease mesotheiloma generally occurs to persons who are in there 40’s. However, due to the suttleness of the diesease only few cases of Mesothelioma have been diagnosed and recorded. It is highly advised that persons who are and have been exposed to asbestos take proper precautions in order to prevent the occurrence of this disease and also to check regularly with their doctor in order to have an early detecttion incase the disease develops.

An early detection, can prevent the spread of the disease and increase your chances of survival. Mesothelioma is generally develops in the right or the left side of the pleura and at times may also infect the diaphragm. This stage is the first development of the disease. In stage 2, the disease begins to invade the walls of the chest. At point, it can affect the esophagus, heart or even the pleura on both the sides. In stage 3, the Mesothelioma cancer penetrates through the diaphragm and reaches the abdominal cavity and in the final stage it spreads into the blood streams and the other organs of the body.

Statistics have shown that the disease Mesothelioma occurs more in men than in women. Most forms of Mesothelioma cancer is considered to be very fatal. The rates of survival Mesothelioma victims are very rare, however if early treatment takes place, then the patient may be blessed with a longer survival span.

To Learn More About Mesothelioma and How You Can Be A Part of The Cure Visit Mesothelioma Help Today



About the Author

Andre Lee is a Second Year College Student, Who is pursuing a career in the field of alternative medicine and hopes that someday a more natural means of curing people of their illnesses will be embraced.

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Asbestos and Lung Cancer are Old Friends

Asbestos and Lung Cancer are Old Friends

Article by Adam Bradley







Anyone can theoretically breathe in asbestos. Asbestos use and lung cancer have been associated for years. Asbestos and asbestos derivatives have been used in so many products that as consumers we use everyday. Part of an element of asbestos was once used in crayons for instance. Asbestos has also been built into many people’s homes, public schools, clothing and even used extensively in hospitals. It used to be ubiquitous, not so much anymore.

If an object is moved or agitated and it contains asbestos, microscopic spores or fibers are flung into the air. They are so light, they float. This causes humans to breathe them in not knowing what they are sucking into their bodies. Since these spores are not supposed to be in our bodies, our lungs do not know what to do with them. Our lungs do not know they are even there. The spores end up being trapped in our lungs for years on end. As time marches forward, these spores gather around and end up scarring and inflaming the lungs. This may not interfere with your breathing ability but can lead to severe health complications.

Asbestos has been officially labeled as a preeminent carcinogen. This means that this element induces cancer. Asbestos and lung cancer have been synonymous. This fact has been classified as such by the EPA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. There has been data accumulated that supports the findings that asbestos can increase the chances of someone obtaining lung cancer. Not only lung cancer, mesothelioma is another disease that can be attained.

Mesothelioma is a pretty uncommon form of asbestos lung cancer that incorporates the thin membranes that attach themselves along the chest and abdomen. There is a strong chance you would never be a statistic with this type of cancer unless you inhaled asbestos. Mesothelioma is virtually unheard of without contact with asbestos.

Asbestos does not stop there. It can cause more than two forms of cancer. There has been data that offers an association between asbestos inhalation and colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers. Moreover, being in an atmosphere of asbestos can increase the chances of someone obtaining kidney, throat, esophagus and gallbladder cancer. But, this evidence is not perfect and there are some doubters to these accusations.

Asbestos exposure can perhaps exacerbate the chances of asbestosis. This is an inflammatory situation irrritating the lungs which can lead to weakness of breath, coughing and severe lung damage. Asbestos has been known to cause nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders. Pleural plaques is another.This condition is where the membranes which encompass the lungs are damaged. Another disorder is pleural thickening. Asbestos can also ignite benign pleural effusions. This is when fluids collect between the thin layers of tissue draping the lungs and the chest cavity wall. Pleural plaques do not guarantee lung cancer but if someone is beset by this sickness there is an increased chance that lung cancer will be soon manifest itself.

The relationship between asbestos and lung cancer has been widely accepted. United States industries and manufacturing plants have moved away from using asbestos in many products. Comparatively statistics show that domestic intake of asbestos in 1973 was about 803,000 tons. By 2005, this number had dropped to 2,400 tons.

Heres some great info you’ll appreciate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7LMam_yJJk



About the Author

Adam Bradley is a book publisher. While doing research on asbestos: http://asbestoscancerresources.com/asbestos-and-lung-cancer; he was shocked by the amount of poor information. His research team compiled a directory of agencies, medical centers and groups that provide real help to the victims and families. He offers a free 15 part Mini-Course to help as many as possible: http://asbestoscancerresources.com

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Mesothelioma – How To Manage Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma – How To Manage Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer

What is Mesothelium?

Malignant mesothelioma is a devasting, rare and deadly form of cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos. If you’ve lived under working conditions that exposed you to asbestos, or had a household member that worked near or with asbestos, you should bring this to the attention of a medical doctor and seek free legal counsel.

The mesothelium is called by different names, depending on where it is located in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

The organs that are affected most by mesothelioma are the lungs. The most common type of mesothelioma which is called pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and can cause symptoms such as coughing, breathing and swallowing difficulties, shortness of breath and fever. Another area that can be affected by mesothelioma is the abdomen. This is less common and this is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include nausea and vomiting, weight loss, fever, bowel obstruction, loss of appetite and general pain in the stomach area. The last and least common type of mesothelioma is known as pericardial mesothelioma and it affects the heart and the tissue surrounding it. Symptoms of this form of the cancer include palpitations, breathing difficulties and persistent coughing. Generally, the symptoms of mesothelioma are typical of many other diseases and this makes it very difficult to diagnose.

Asbestos is a natural fibrous material that was widely used in various industries and building materials because of its stability and heat resistant properties. However, asbestos is also a deadly contaminant and responsible for serious diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma cancers and lung cancer. Most of the diseases are caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers that could settle in the internal body organs and cause serious diseases. Mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases can lie dormant in the body for decades before diagnosis. The worst part is that after diagnosis the patient has hardly any left for fighting these diseases.

In order to prevent the adverse affects of Mesothelioma injury, Mesothelioma doctors have been implementing various treatments that aim to prevent further damage. Some of these treatments include, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune augmentative therapy.

In regard to Mesothelioma Cancer, Surgery aims to remove the Cancerous Mesothelioma cells, while chemotherapy uses drugs to kill the Cancerous cells. Radiation therapy also aims to eliminate the Mesothelioma cells, while immune augmentative therapy aims to restore the body’s natural immune system to a level in which it can be effective in helping to fight the effects of Mesothelioma Cancer.

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Article from articlesbase.com

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Q&A: What is the average age that smokers get lung cancer?

Question by Momothewallabe: What is the average age that smokers get lung cancer?
Statistically speaking, what is the average age that smokers who develop lung cancer are diagnosed? Again statistically speaking, how long has the average lung cancer patient who acquired the disease through smoking been smoking?

Best answer:

Answer by haslo
Statistically, the lung cancers can occur after about 20 years of smoking…though the longer one smokes the higher the risk.

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Lung Cancer Can be Deadly

Lung Cancer Can be Deadly

Lung tumor is the product of malignant cells forming in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing and reproducing. Usually, there’s an organized pattern to this reproduction as cells use and specialize to convene particular needs. Occasionally, however, a faction becomes smashed. There’s a mutation in its DNA, and instead than budding and final as is ordinary, it continues to mimic unimpeded. In essence, this is pest – uncontrolled reproduction and tumor of abnormal cells in the body.

Most lung cancers are assumed to father in the epithelial lining of the lungs – the linings of the large and small airways that perform the errand of extracting oxygen from the air. Because this, lung evil is sometimes called bronchogenic carcinoma – melanoma arising from the bronchia. A smaller percentage of lung cancers arise in the pleura – the emaciated tissue sac that surrounds the lungs. These cancers are called mesothelioma. The most frequent form of mesothelioma is related to asbestos exposure.

Cancer of the lungs is one of the deadliest forms of blight. While it may take a phase of time to stem, the tumor regularly goes undetected pending recent in the manner. In addition, it tends to metastasize (migrate to other parts of the body) early, which leaves minus opportunities to dispute the mutated cells with surgery or radiation. Once the lung bane does metastasize, it briefly spreads to the most vulnerable and important organs of the body, particularly the adrenal glands, the liver, the brain and the bones.

There are two chief forms of lung plague – Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Small Cell Lung Cancer is fewer everyday, although far more deadly. It’s soon related to cigarette smoking – fewer than 1% of SCLC is diagnosed in non-smokers. It’s also very aggressive and sharp-poignant, metastasizing briskly to other organs, and regularly undiscovered pending it’s already widespread.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is far more general, accounting for near 80% of all diagnosed lung cancers. There are three main types of non-small unit lung plague, generally characterized by the dimension, contour, and compound composition of the cells that form the scourge:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (also termed Epidermoid Carcinoma): accounts for around 25% – 30% of all lung cancers, and is associated with a record of smoking. This canker is near forever found in the vital chest vicinity, near the bronchus.

Adenocarcinoma (also termed Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma): accounts for around 40% of all lung cancers, and is found in the outer expanse of the lung. Treatment for this form of lung plague often leads to a more successful outcome than that of other lung cancers.

Large-Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: accounting for only 10% – 15% of lung cancers, this form may show up in any question of the lung. It tends to butter speedily, and often fallout in a pitiable forecast.

It’s also likely for lung menace to be a combination of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer types.

There are other, less joint types of lung sarcoma. For request, bronchial carcinoids are small tumors often found in people under 40 years of age. They lean to grow gradually, and be willing to dealing. Carcinoid tumors account for about 5% of lung tumors. Some are non-cancerous. The others are generally dawdling-budding and can be successfully treated with surgery.

Finally, some cancers discovered in the lungs aren’t lung cancers at all. Since the lungs are level to metastatic cancers from other sites, it’s not uncommon for tumors from other main cancers to find their way to the lungs. When this occurs, the tumors are often discovered in the peripheral tissues of the lungs fairly than in the principal tissues.

Please tinge that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It should not be worn during a wellbeing emergency or for the diagnosis or healing of lung cancer. Such situations should always absorb the expertise of a doctor or health precision supplier.

To read about lung cancer prognosis and lung cancer statistics, visit the Lung Cancer Facts site.

Article from articlesbase.com

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Pneumonectomy for Pleural Mesothelioma

Pneumonectomy for Pleural Mesothelioma

Article by Michael Enfield







When a person has cancer, doctors will typically create a treatment plan involving a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Surgery can help prevent the further spread of tumors as well as extend the patient’s lifespan. This is especially important for deadly, usually incurable cancers like pleural mesothelioma. One surgery used for this cancer is pneumonectomy.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is most often the result of asbestos exposure. It attacks the epithelial cells that make up the mesothelium, or the special lining that protects the internal organs and body cavities from chafing and friction. The mesothelium secretes a fluid that lubricates the inside of the body, allowing them to slide against each other smoothly. When mesothelioma attacks the mesothelium lining the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma starts in the epithelial cells surrounding the lungs, but then tumors can spread into the lung tissue itself. This can lead to debilitating symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Thus, doctors may choose to completely remove the diseased lung in a process called pneumonectomy. This is a radical procedure that is often only used if there are no other options.

During a pneumonectomy, doctors will anesthetize you then make an incision stretching from just below your shoulder and curving down to the bottom of your rib cage. Basically, they will then artificially collapse, or deflate, the lung so that they can remove it more easily. Surgeons will disconnect the airways and blood vessels leading to and from the lung, then they will take it out of your chest cavity. Usually, they insert a special drainage tube into your chest cavity before suturing the incision.

For many people, shortness of breath is a side effect of a pneumonectomy that you can experience for several months following your surgery. However, if you have pleural mesothelioma, this may be a worthwhile trade if it means several more months of life.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are facing a difficult road ahead. To learn more about this cancer as well as its treatment options, please visit the Mesothelioma Help Center today.



About the Author

Michael Enfield is a Texas-based author.

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